| Michael Lorenzen | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lorenzen on a rehab start in 2023 | |
| Colorado Rockies – No. 24 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1992-01-04)January 4, 1992 (age 34) Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 29, 2015, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 54–55 |
| Earned run average | 4.08 |
| Strikeouts | 826 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Michael Clifton Lorenzen (born January 4, 1992) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theColorado Rockies ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theCincinnati Reds,Los Angeles Angels,Detroit Tigers,Philadelphia Phillies,Texas Rangers, andKansas City Royals.
Incollege baseball, Lorenzen was a pitcher and outfielder for theCal State Fullerton Titans. The Reds selected Lorenzen in the first round of the2013 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with the Reds in 2015. Lorenzen signed with theLos Angeles Angels for the 2022 season and with the Tigers before the 2023 season. He was named anMLB All-Star in 2023.
The Tigers traded Lorenzen to the Phillies prior to2023 season trade deadline, where he threw ano-hitter. He signed with the Rangers for the 2024 season.
Lorenzen attendedFullerton Union High School inFullerton, California, where he played for the school's baseball team. He had abatting average above .400 as a freshman. TheTampa Bay Rays selected Lorenzen in the seventh round of the2010 Major League Baseball draft. Lorenzen opted not to sign, and instead enrolled atCalifornia State University, Fullerton, to playbaseball for the Titans.[1] In 2012, he was named anAll-American[2] and a finalist for theJohn Olerud Award.[3] Lorenzen has also played on theUnited States national collegiate baseball team.[4] In 2012, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theBrewster Whitecaps of theCape Cod Baseball League.[5]
Lorenzen was considered to be among the best prospects eligible for the2013 Major League Baseball draft,[6] and was ranked as the #52 prospect byBaseball America.[7] He was selected with the 38th pick by theCincinnati Reds.[8] He signed and made his professional debut with theArizona League Reds. He also pitched for theDayton Dragons,Bakersfield Blaze, and thePensacola Blue Wahoos during the season. In 21 innings pitched between the four clubs, he was 1–1 with a 3.00earned run average (ERA).
The Reds invited Lorenzen tospring training as a non-roster invitee in 2014.[9] He pitched for Pensacola in 2014, started 24 games, and pitched to a 4–6win–loss record and a 3.13 ERA in120+2⁄3innings pitched. He tried out for the Reds in spring training in 2015 as a relief pitcher[10] but was reassigned to the minor leagues before the start of the season.[11] He started the 2015 season with theLouisville Bats.
The Reds promoted Lorenzen to the major leagues to start on April 29, 2015.[12] He made his major league debut that day, pitching five innings against theMilwaukee Brewers. He gave up eight hits, including three home runs, walked one and struck out five, and was credited with the 8–3 loss.[13][14] He stayed with Cincinnati before being optioned to Louisville on August 14. He was recalled by the Reds on August 31. In 27 games (21 starts) for the Reds, he was 4–9 with a 5.40 ERA, and in six starts for Louisville, he was 4–2 with a 1.88 ERA.[15]
During spring training in 2016, he was diagnosed with asprainedulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow,[16] and he did not return until mid-June. He pitched out of the bullpen for Cincinnati upon his return, and he finished the year with a 2–1 record and a 2.88 ERA in 35 relief appearances. In 2017, he was 8–4 with a 4.45 ERA in 70 appearances in relief.
Lorenzen was called up to pinch-hit in the seventh inning of a June 30, 2018, game against the Brewers and hit agrand slam off pitcherJacob Barnes. It was Lorenzen's third home run of the 2018 season.[17]
During the 2018–2019 offseason, Lorenzen worked extensively as an outfielder and stated he had eagerness and desire for the transition to atwo-way player.[18] On September 4, 2019, Lorenzen became the second player in baseball history to hit a home run, earn the win as the pitcher, and play in the field in the same game when the Reds defeated the Phillies, 8–5. The other player to achieve the feat wasBabe Ruth on June 13, 1921.[19] In 2020 for the Reds, Lorenzen pitched in 18 games, registering a 3–1 record and a 4.28 ERA with 35 strikeouts in33+2⁄3 innings of work.[20]
On April 14, 2021, Lorenzen was placed on the 60-dayinjured list with a shoulder strain.[21] On July 17, 2021, Lorenzen was activated off of the injured list.[22]
On November 30, 2021, Lorenzen signed a one-year contract with theLos Angeles Angels worth $6.75 million.[23] Lorenzen sought to sign with a team that would allow him to start games and picked the Angels out of several offering teams because of his childhood in the Anaheim area.[24] He made his Angels debut on April 11, 2022, starting the game and pitching 6 innings with 2 hits and 1 earned run allowed while striking out 7 against theMiami Marlins.[25]On May 1, 2022, Lorenzen made his longest career start against theChicago White Sox, giving up 3 runs in8+1⁄3 innings of work.[26] On July 7, the Angels placed Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list due to a strain in his right shoulder. An MRI found that there was no structural damage from the injury.[27] He was later transferred to the 60-day injured list[28] and was activated on September 9. In 18 starts, Lorenzen finished the season with an 8–6 record, posting a 4.24 ERA with 85 strikeouts.
On December 20, 2022, Lorenzen signed a one-year contract with theDetroit Tigers worth $8.5 million.[29] Lorenzen started the season on the injured list with a left groin strain.[30] He was activated off the injured list on April 15, 2023, to make his Tigers debut starting against theSan Francisco Giants.[31] Lorenzen represented the Tigers at the2023 MLB All-Star Game.[32] He posted a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts for Detroit.
On August 1, 2023, Lorenzen was traded to thePhiladelphia Phillies for prospectHao-Yu Lee.[33][34] On August 9, in his first home start in Philadelphia, with his mother, wife, and daughter in attendance, Lorenzen threw ano-hitter in a 7–0 win over theWashington Nationals. The no-hitter was the 14th in Phillies franchise history, and the first sinceCole Hamels in 2015.[35] Lorenzen struggled after the no-hitter, posting a 5.51 ERA in 11 games for Philadelphia. He pitched twice in relief in the playoffs, allowing no runs but 4 baserunners in2+2⁄3 innings.[36] He became a free agent following the season.
On March 22, 2024, Lorenzen signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with theTexas Rangers.[37] He waited until March to sign, hoping for a multi-year contract.[38][39] In 19 games (18 starts) for the Rangers, Lorenzen had a 5–6 record, 3.81 ERA, and 75 strikeouts across101+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On July 29, 2024, Lorenzen was traded to theKansas City Royals forWalter Pennington.[40] In 7 games (6 starts) for the Royals, he posted a 2–0 record and 1.57 ERA with 22 strikeouts across28+2⁄3 innings pitched.[41] He took the loss in Game 1 of theAmerican League Division Series, allowing one run and one inherited runner to score. He pitched one more scoreless inning as the Royals lost to theNew York Yankees.[36]
On January 8, 2025, Lorenzen re-signed with the Royals on a one-year, $7 million contract.[42] Before signing, he had considered once again attempting to become a two-way player, in part to circumvent an MLB rule limiting the number of pitchers allowed on an MLB active roster.[43][44] Lorenzen made 27 appearances (26 starts) for Kansas City, compiling a 7-11 record and 4.64 ERA with 127 strikeouts across141+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On January 15, 2026, Lorenzen signed a one-year, $8 million contract with theColorado Rockies that included a $9 million club option for the 2027 season.[45]
Lorenzen, who grew up skating, is known for wearing customizedVans skate shoes rather than standard baseball cleats. When Lorenzen pitched ano-hitter in 2023, his Vans were sent to theBaseball Hall of Fame.[46]
Lorenzen has three older brothers: Jonathan, Matthew, and Anthony. Jonathan played two seasons in theLos Angeles Dodgers organization, and Matthew played college baseball at Cypress and Fullerton Colleges.[1][47][48]
Both of Lorenzen's parents struggled with drugs and alcohol and frequently fought, with Lorenzen stating that police would show up at his house "almost every single weekend."[49] Lorenzen began experimenting with drugs and alcohol in eighth grade, but stopped when he was 17 after a man read him theGospel.[50][51] He is now a devoutChristian.[52][50] He has Bible verses and references tattooed on both arms.[53][54][55][56]
Lorenzen's father died in August 2016. In his first game back from thebereavement list on August 19, 2016, he hit his first career home run and dedicated it to his father.[57]
Lorenzen and his wife, Cassi, married in November 2016.[58] They have a daughter, named June, born in 2023.[59]
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| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher August 9, 2023 | Succeeded by |